Method of applying tape

ABSTRACT

Masking tape is applied along an edge of one surface by moving a tape roll carrying carriage over an adjacent angularly related surface, either by hand or with an extension handle adapted to be demountably connected to the carriage to provide universal angular movement of the handle relative to the carriage and to coact with a guide and abutment member extending laterally from the carriage to the surface on which the tape is to be applied.

June 4, 1974 w. WAGNER 3,814,643

METHOD OF APPLYING TAPE Filed May 22, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z6 24 2-7 7l Xw M HHMW Wlilh t I H 26 l June 4, 1974 w, WAGNER 3,814,643

METHOD OF APPLYING TAPE Filed May 22, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1974 w.WAGNER METHOD OF APPLYING TAPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 22, 1972Jlll'lfi 4, w WAGNER METHOD OF APPLYING TAPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May22, 1972 j Z'g. 1%,

U.s. Cl. 156-71 n d States Patent 3,814,643 METHOD OF APPLYING TAPWalter Wagner, 2 Spring Drive, Dumont, NJ. 07628 Continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 33,546, May 1, 1970, now Patent No. 3,677,865,dated July 18, 1972. This application May 22, 1972, Ser. No. 255,658

Int. Cl. E04b 2/00 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE FIELD OF THEINVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of copendingapplication Ser. No. 33,546, filed May 1, 1970 which matured into U.S.Pat. No. 3,677,865, July 18, 1972.

This invention relates to a device adapted primarily for applying tapeto one surface by moving it over an adjacent angularly related surface.While it has many useful applications, its use is particularlycontemplated for placing a strip of masking tape along one surface insubstantially abutting relation to another, angularly related, surface.It is particularly useful in preparing for painting a wall or ceiling ofa room by placing a strip of masking tape along the adjacent edge of theadjoining walls, walls, ceiling, floor or carpet. An advantage of thedevice is that it is able to guide and dispense a length of masking tapeonto one wall at a corner of the room in close abutting relation to anadjoining wall. The adjustable wheel mounting compensate for differencesin width of the tape and insure that the inner edge of the tape will beapplied in abutting relation to an adjoining surface.

The lateral abutment acting in conjunction with the extended handlefacilitates applying tape on a ceiling adjoining one of the wallsurfaces, or on a wall surface above the reach of the operator.

While the device disclosed herein is a carriage comprising a framemounted on wheels for moving the device over one wall while it isapplying tape on to another angularly related wall, the device may alsobe used without contact between the wheels and a wall. For example, ifit is desired to paint a baseboard molding of a room which has wall towall carpeting, the device may be employed to apply tape over the edgeof the carpet adjoining the molding even though the molding will preventthe wheels of the device from contacting and riding on the adjacent sidewall.

The tape guide means employed and the adjustable position of thepressure roll relative to the plane of the tape roll prevent lateraldisplacement of the tape and cause it to adhere chiefly along its inneredge. In the case of applying tape to a carpet adjacent a baseboardmolding, it will be found that the near edge of the tape will be turneddown between the carpet and the molding while the outer edge of thetape, remote from the molding, may be substantially free or only lightlyadhering to the surface of the carpet. This result is accomplished bythe adjustable offset position of the pressure roll relative to the taperoll.

The word wall is used broadly herein and it will be understood that theapplicator disclosed herein may be used for masking not only side wallsand ceilings and floors but also window glass, and a floor or carpet aswhen painting baseboards.

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2 SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE A frame is provided, which may be T shapedand has wheels on which it may be moved over a wall surface. At each endof the cross bar of the frame a guide roll and an applicator or pressureroll are mounted. A roll of tape may be mounted under the frame so thatit will deliver either to the right or left hand of a person using thedevice. Adjacent each combination of a guide roll and an applicator rollis a tape cutter disposed close to the periphery of a tape roll mountedunder the frame. The cutter is spaced inwardly from the path followed bythe tape while the tape roll is rotating and the tape is being unwoundand applied to a wall surface. But the tape may be pushed against thecutter, or drawn back against cutter, and cut off by stopping rotationof the tape roll while the applicator is moving or by rotating the taperoll in reverse.

The rolls comprising each combination of a guide roll and a pressureroll coact in advancing the tape but they are not necessarily exactlyaligned. Each guide roll preferably has an abutment along one side whichis effective in preventing the unwinding tape from moving laterally, asfor example away from the corner or interface with an adjoiningangularly related surface, even if the roll of tape being used tends towobble on its mounting. The width of the pressure roll is preferablyless than the width of the tape being applied and the position of thepressure roll is adjustable toward and away from the frame to cause thecenter line of the pressure roll to be slightly offset relative to thecenter line of the tape roll so that the applying pressure is exertedchiefly along the inner edge of the tape leaving the outer edge of thetape free or only lightly adhering to the surface to which it isapplied, which result not only facilitates removal of the tape but alsohelps to prevent damage to the surface when the tape is removed.

The Wheel mounting are adjustable toward and away from the frame tocompensate for differences in the width of rolls of tape so that theroll of tape may be supported as close as possible to a wall over whichthe device is moved on the said wheels and so that the tape deliveredlaterally of the device will be applied to one wall with is edgesubstantially touching an angularly related wall.

The position of the cutter may be such relative to the length of thecarriage that when the carriage reaches an end of its travel over onewall the tape may be severed at a point which will provide an as yetunsecured free end of tape long enough to reach to the end of thesurface on which the tape is being applied. This free end of tape may ofcourse be smoothed down and applied to the surface as by the operatorsfinger.

A demountable lateral abutment member is provided and the frame isformed with a transverse socket for mounting the abutment member byinserting its rear end in the socket. A wheel or roller is provided atthe outer end of the abutment member for making rolling contact with thesurface on which the tape is to be applied, the length of the abutmentmember including the roller being such that the contact surfaces of thetape applicator roll and of the wheel or roller carried at the outer endof the abutment member will be aligned. The carriage frame member may beformed with an internal storage chamber in which the detachable lateralabutment member may be stored when not in use.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which,

FIG. 1 is an end view of an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation,

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5' is a detail cross secti'onalview taken on the lines 5--5 of FIG.2,

FIG. 6 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the lines 6-6 of FIG.2,

FIG. 7 is a front view of the device showing tape -being applied to aceiling while the applicator is being moved toward the viewer over aside wall, with the ceiling and side wall indicated in cross section, 7

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7 showing a pressureroll pressing a length of masking tape, as it is unwound from the taperoll, along a ceiling in close proximity to a side wall on which thewheels of the applicator are traveling,

FIG. 9 is a detail view partly in section showing the device travelingalong a baseboard while tape is being laid over the adjacent edge of acarpet which extends to the baseboard, and illustrating how the pressureroll, being a little narrower than the tape, exerts its pressure more onthe edge of the tape which is adjacent the baseboard than on the edgewhich is further inward of the carpet,

FIG. 10 shows in cross section a strip of tape after it has been appliedalong the edge of the carpet and illustrates the result of applyinggreater pressure along the inner edge of the tape with the result thatthe inner edge actually turns down over the edge of the carpet adjacentthe baseboard, while its opposite edge is left free or adhering onlylightly to the surface of the carpet,

FIG. 11 illustrates the device being used for placing a strip of maskingtape along the edge of a window or door frame while the device is beingmoved over the surface of a wall in which the window or door frame islocated,

FIG. 12 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG.11,

FIG. 13 is a view partly in section taken on the line 1313 of FIG. 11and looking at the edge of the applicator device which is remote fromthe door or window frame which is being masked,

FIG. 14 is a view of the device partly cut away and partly in sectionshowing the applicator equipped with a stop or spacing member projectedin front of the applicator and touching a ceiling while the wheels ofthe applicator rest on one side wall and tape is being applied to anangularly related side wall close to the angular interface between thetwo side walls,

FIG. 15 illustrates how, the spacing member having been projected aheadof the device a distance equal to the length of the portion of the tapebetween the cutter and a point on the pressure roll tangential to thewall over which the tape t is being applied, the tape having been cutoif, as by a twist of the wrist of the operator, the free end of thetape may be applied by the operators finger and will extend precisely upto the ceiling.

FIG. 16 is an exploded view in perspective of a laterally extendingguide member and of the rear end of a modified form of tape applicatorframe, cut away to show a chamber in which the guide member may bestored.

FIG. 17 is a top plan View of the modified frame portion shown in FIG.16 with the laterally extending guide member stored therein.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the modified frame por- 2 plying tapealong the edge of an adjoining wall or ceila ing, and with the laterallyextending guide also travelling on said adjoining wall or ceiling andserving as a gauge which ensures the tape will be applied close to the corner' 'or' inter'fa'ce between the two surfaces; The view shows theapplicator being held in the described position, above or beyond theoperators unassisted reach, by an extension handle detachably connectedto the application frame qingaway .which permits angular movement {ofthe handle relativeto the frame. e

4 DESCRIPTION In the illustrated embodiment of the invention asubstantially T-shaped frame comprises, a. longitudinal frame member 10which is offset intermediate its ends and bent down atits rear end, anda cross frame member 12. A roller 14 is mounted at the lower end of thebent down rear end of the longitudinal frame member 10, and a pair ofrollers 16, 16are mounted under and adjacent the respective ends of thecrossmember 12. The rollers 16 are carried by the downwardly extendingends of a cross bar 18, mounted by pin and slot connections to upturnedbrackets on the cross frame member 12for adjustment in a plane normal tothe frame. The upturned brackets of cross frame member "12 areidentified by numeral 19, the slots in cross bar 18 are identified bythe numeral 20, and the pins are shown as thumb screws 22, extendingthrough the slots 20 and through the brackets 19.

A hub 24 is mounted for rotation under the frame, as by member 25 whichis part bearing and has a screw threaded end which. extends through theframe. The bearing portion of member'ZS provides a seat on which a rollof tape may be supported for rotation in a plane parallel to, orsubstantially parallel to, the plane of the frame and to a surface overwhich the applicator is being moved. It will be noted the plane of theroll of tape may be adjusted toward and away from the surface by raisingand lowering cross bar 18.

As shown the hub 24 is cup-shaped with strengthening radial webs 26.Knobs 27 project from the periphery of the hub. They serve to compensatefor slight variations in the internal diameter of tape rolls.

Also supported beneath the frame on either side, and adjacent theperiphery'of a roll of tape T mounted on its support hub 24, is thecombination of a cutter 28, a guide roll 30 and a pressure roll 32 Tapemay be drawn from the tape roll and passed overeither guide roll andpressure roll combination with the adhesive face out. By placing thefree end of the tape t on-a wall surface and moving the applicatorforward over' an angularly related wall the tape may be'unwou'nd fromthe tape roll and, depending upon which side of the tape roll is up, thetape may be made to move around either set of rollers 30, 32 and appliedlaterally of'the frame to a wall surface close to its interface with anadjoining wall.

Each cutter member 28 comprises an angular member with serrated teethdirected toward the tape as it travels from the tape roll to a guider011 30. Each member 28 is disposed adjacent the path of the tape but isspaced sufficiently from the tape so that the latter does not come incontact with cutter 28 While the tape roll is rotating. When theoperator wishes to cut off the tape he may accomplish this simply bypressing his finger on the tape roll and stopping its'rotation. A slightfurther forward movement of the device'brings the tape back against thecutter and cuts it off close'to the point where it separates from theroll. Cutting off of the tape may also be accomplished by manuallyrotating the tape roll in reverse, as for example when the applicator isin the position shown in FIG.-14 with the stop-spacing member 34extended in front of the device and abutting against a wall surface. Asshown member 34 has a longitudinal slot 36 and may be held in projectedor withdrawn positions by means of thumb screws 38 extending throughslot 36 into the frame. 1

As shown in FIG. S'each guide roll 30, at its end which is proximate tothe frame, which is the outer end of the guide roll with respect to thewall angularly related to the wall on which the tape is being applied,has a shoulder 40 which prevents the unwinding tape from movinglaterally away from the corner or interface be tween the two angularlyrelated walls.

' Each guide roll 30 and each pressure roll 32 is mounted for rotationon a bearing shaft 42 depending from the cross frame member 12, andwhich may be similar to bearing screw 25. At least each pressure roll 32is adjustable toward and away from the supporting frame to control thealignment and non-alignment of the pressure roll with its guide roll 30and with the tape roll T. It is desirable for the pressure roll to presson the inner edge of the length of tape being applied to a surface morethan on its outer edge to cause the tape to adhere firmly to the surfacealong its inner edge, which is the edge in abutting relation to theadjoining angularly related surface, leaving its outer edge free or onlylightly adhering to the surface. This enables the tape to be moved fromthe surface more readily and substantially eliminates the likelihood ofdamage to the surface during removal of the tape.

It will be understood that in use the operator grasps the suitcase typehandle provided by the offset portion 44 of the longitudinal framemember and advances the device after leading an end of the tape past thecutter and over the guide and pressure rollers. When possible the wheelsof the device are rested on one surface which may be a surface to bepainted, While the pressure roller is pressed against an adjoiningangularly related surface to apply a strip of tape over it so that paintwill not he accidentally smeared on said adjoining surface when paint isapplied to the surface to be painted.

Tape is supplied in different widths and the position of the shoulder 40on guide roll 30 may in effect be moved inwardly along the guide roll tocompensate for narrower widths by slipping a collar (not shown) on theguide roll in abutting relation to the shoulder 40.

As shown in FIG. 1 a cutter guard 29 may be provided in association witheach cutter 28.

Desirably a smooth face plate 46, of metal or plastic for example, isprovided at the inner face of each pressure roll 32 to prevent wear ofthe roller and also to pre vent the rubber or other composition of theroller from rubbing off onto the wall angularly adjoining the wall onwhich tape is applied. A face plate 44 is shown in FIG. 6 which alsoillustrates how a pressure roll may be locked in adjusted position bymeans of the wing nut 33 on the threaded end of member 42 which extendsthrough the frame. As shown each pressure roll comprises a sleeve 48adjustable axially of member 42 for moving the pressure roll toward andaway from the supporting frame.

In FIGS. 16 and 19 a modified longitudinal frame mem ber 50 is shownprovided with an internal storage space 52 adapted to receive thereinwhen not in use an abutment member 54. The longitudinal frame member 50is provided with a transversely extending socket 56 adapted to receivethe rearward extension 58 of the abutment member 54, and therebyposition the abutment member projecting laterally from the longitudinalframe member 50. As shown the abutment member 54 carries at its outerend the wheel 60 adapted to travel on a surface 62 such as a ceiling, orthe portion of a wall surface above the operators reach.

The length of member 54 is such that when its rearwardly projectingportion 58 is inserted in the transverse socket 56 in the longitudinalframe member the outer As shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 a yieldingdistortable spring member 64 is provided projecting from the abutmentmember 54, and serving, when the member 54 is inserted in the storagechamber 52 within the longitudinal frame member, to hold the abutmentmember in place to prevent is from falling out from the storage chamber,as for example wheh the device is being used without the abutmentmember.

In FIGS. 18 and 19 the tape applying device is shown placed against awall surface with the lateral abutment member seated in socket 56 andwith its wheel 60 in contact with a ceiling, and with an extension arm70 loosely and pivotally engaged with the longitudinal frame member 50as by insertion of the pin 72 at the forward end of the extension arminserted in a hole or socket 74 in the frame member, the hole being ofsufficiently greater diameter than the pin 72 to provide in effect auniversal joining and to allow the pin and therefore the extensionhandle 70 to be swung both toward and away from the surface on which theapplicator device is placed and also in a. plane parallel to the saidsurface to facilitate movement of the carriage above the reach of theoperator. It will be understood that by the extension arm 70 thecarriage may be held and readily moved on said second surface with thewheel 60 at the outer end of the abutment member 54 in contact with theceiling 62, and that the operator may move the carriage walking along aWall without maintaining a precise position of the extension arm whilethe lateral abutment is kept in contact with the ceiling or otheradjoining surface. The angular movement provided for arm 70 relative tothe carriage allows the device to be moved freely around and over dooror window frames, and other projections from the wall.

List of parts 10 longitudinal frame member 12 cross frame member 14roller at rear end of frame 16, 16 rollers under ends of 12 18 cross barcarrying rollers 16, 16

19 brackets on 12 20 slots in 18 22 pins-thumb screws extending through20 into 19 24 hub, rotatable T tape roll on 24 25 bearing-screw on which24 is rotated and by which it is attached to the frame 26 radial webs of24 27 knobs on periphery of 24 28 cutters 29 cutter guard 30 guide rolls32 pressure rolls (has 46 & 48)

33 wing nutlocking means for 32 34 stop-spacing member 36 longitudinalslot in 34 38 thumb screw extending through 36 into frame 40 shoulder on30 42 hearing shaft for 30 and for 32 44 offset handle portion oflongitudinal frame member 10 t tape unwound from 24 46 face plate oninner face of pressure roll 48 sleeve of 32 through which 42 extends 50modified frame member 52 internal storage space in 50 54 abutment member56 transverse socket to receive 54 58 rearward extension of 54 60 wheelat outer end of 54 62 ceiling 64 distortable member projecting from sideof 54 70 extension arm 72 pin at front end of 70 74 hole in frame memberto receive 72 I claim:

1. The method of applying tape to a first surface adjoining andangularly related to a second surface which comprises, providing acarriage with Wheels adapted to travel over said second surface and withmeans for mounting a roll of tape for rotation in a plane parallel withthe second surface, providing guide means for directing tape laterallyas it is unwound from a tape roll mounted on the mounting means, andemploying pressure applicator means to place the tape on the firstsurface and to apply pressure on the tape as it is applied on said firstsurface.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 including the step of employing alaterally extending arm and a roller supported thereon for making arolling contact with the first surface and serving as a guide andabutment and spacing member while the tape is applied on said firstsurface.

3. The method claimed in claim 1 in which the pressure roll is disposedto press only upon the inner edge portion of the tape as it is appliedto the first surface.

4. The method claimed in claim 1 including the steps of providing ahandle arm and means for pivotally and loosely connecting it to thecarriage for swinging movement relative to the carriage, and employing alaterally extending guide arm and spacing member adapted to be heldagainst the first surface While the tape is applied thereon by using thehandle arm to advance the carriage over the second surface.

5. The method claimed in claim 1 including the step of pivotallyconnecting one end of an extended handle to around areas projecting fromthe second surface including door and window frames and the like;

6. The method claimed in claim 1 including the step of making theposition of the tape roll mounting means adjustable toward and away fromthe Wall over which the carriage is moved to compensate for differencesin the width of rolls of tape and to bring a side surface of the taperoll close to the wall so that the tape will be applied with an edgeclose to that wall without rubbing against thewall. I

7. The method claimed in claim 1 including the step of providing cut ofimeans disposed relative to the guide and pressure applicator means sothat the tape may be drawn back against the cut off means and out 01fwhen desired, as by stopping rotation of the tape roll while thecarriage is moving or by grasping the tape roll and rotating it indirection opposite to that when tape is discharged.

8. The method claimed in claim 1 including the step of limiting lateralmovement of the tape as it travels past the said guide means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS

